• Home
  • About Little Hiccups
    • About Us
    • Welcome Pack
    • FAQ
    • Meet The Team
    • Awards and Certifications
    • Supporters and Affiliates
    • Policies and Procedures
  • How We Support
    • –
      • Stay n’ Play
      • Family Fun Days
      • Parent/Carer Events
      • Hydrotherapy
      • Physio Assessment and Advice
      • Accessible Yoga Sessions
    • –
      • All Terrain Buggy Hire
      • Travel Bed Hire
      • Stabilo Bagel Hire
      • Counselling
      • Compassion Packs
      • Mosaic Trail
    • –
      • Max Card
      • Educational / Informative
      • The Principle Trust Holidays
      • Ison Harrison Solicitors – Making a Will
      • Other Information
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteering
    • Fundraising
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Charity Lottery
    • Will Legacy
    • Give As You Live
    • Nectar Donate
    • Donate
  • Upcoming Events
    • All Events
    • Family Fun Days
    • Parent/Carer Events
    • Stay n’ Play
    • Educational / Informative
    • Fundraising
    • Annual Charity Ball
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • DONATE
  • Store
    • Shop at Little Hiccups
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • Login
    • Login/Register
    • Update My Details

Call or text us now for more information: 0783 123 0741

info@littlehiccups.co.uk
Join our Mailing List
£0.00
No products in the cart
Go to shop
Login

Login
Little HiccupsLittle Hiccups
Little HiccupsLittle Hiccups

support - share - experience

   
  • Home
  • About Little Hiccups
    • About Us
    • Welcome Pack
    • FAQ
    • Meet The Team
    • Awards and Certifications
    • Supporters and Affiliates
    • Policies and Procedures
  • How We Support
    • –
      • Stay n’ Play
      • Family Fun Days
      • Parent/Carer Events
      • Hydrotherapy
      • Physio Assessment and Advice
      • Accessible Yoga Sessions
    • –
      • All Terrain Buggy Hire
      • Travel Bed Hire
      • Stabilo Bagel Hire
      • Counselling
      • Compassion Packs
      • Mosaic Trail
    • –
      • Max Card
      • Educational / Informative
      • The Principle Trust Holidays
      • Ison Harrison Solicitors – Making a Will
      • Other Information
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteering
    • Fundraising
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Charity Lottery
    • Will Legacy
    • Give As You Live
    • Nectar Donate
    • Donate
  • Upcoming Events
    • All Events
    • Family Fun Days
    • Parent/Carer Events
    • Stay n’ Play
    • Educational / Informative
    • Fundraising
    • Annual Charity Ball
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • DONATE
  • Store
    • Shop at Little Hiccups
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • Login
    • Login/Register
    • Update My Details

How Little Hiccups started 10 years ago…

Home EventsHow Little Hiccups started 10 years ago…
How Little Hiccups started 10 years ago…

How Little Hiccups started 10 years ago…

April 9, 2019 Events

Thirteen years ago I gave birth to my little boy, full of the joys of becoming a parent and filled with all of the dreams and aspirations for our lives ahead…. those dreams were shattered just a few days afterwards as we very nearly lost our boy to Hypoglycaemia. We spent the following weeks in PICU and HDU before finally bringing our son home, only to keep returning to the LGI as the extent of his injuries came apparent. Jack had been left with scarring all over his brain, resulting in him having severe cortical visual impairment, he cannot sit, stand, hold up his head, or use his hands. He cannot speak (though he can certainly vocalise and express his teenage strops 😉 he is fed via a gastrostomy and has a very difficult to treat form of Epilepsy called Lennox Gastaut Syndrome which means he has 20-30 seizures a day of every different kind. All that said, he is the most loving and inspirational boy I have ever met 🙂

I remember how hard life was back in the early days. I felt consumed by grief and fear for what was to come. Friends and family didn’t always understand – how could they!!? Some people backed away and left me completely isolated and alone. Jack had a growing number of therapists involved in his care, physios, OT’s, speech and language, epilepsy nurses, community nurses, VI teacher, Portage worker, Specialist health visitor, neurologist, paediatrician ….. and they were great, always asking if I wanted to be “put in touch with another family” but I knew if I had to speak the words out loud it was going to make it real!

Finally I did speak to another mum. We spoke of Epilepsy meds and hospital visits, the hardest conversation I have ever had, trying to speak with that lump in my throat and hold back the tears. However, that was my turning point! I realised I wasn’t on my own, there are other families out there going through this too!

The next couple of years saw me leaving my job of 18 years and becoming a single parent, not how I had expected my life to go but Jack needed me more than ever. I recall sitting in Children’s Outpatients one day and looking at the other parents with small babies and a look of total fear in their eyes, wondering what the Drs would tell them next. I knew how they felt and wanted so say “Its ok, you’re not on your own.”

We had been told that Jack’s condition was life limiting, heartbreaking! Somehow I had to get my head, and my heart around that. For a while it did consume me, until I realised I was grieving yet my boy was still here! Still in my arms! This was not the time to grieve, but to make sure I do Jack proud, and give him  the very best life I can. My greatest fear is to stand at his grave and feel I have let him down, which I have no intention of doing!  

Ten years ago I happened to be in the right place at the right time and secured the backing to get “Little Hiccups” up and running. I wanted to bring families together so they would know they weren’t on their own and could support each other. We started with bags of toys and a jar of coffee, ten years later we support over 300 local families and offer a range of services!

We run Stay and Play every Thursday afternoon at Leeds Mencap, an Outreach Service, Hydrotherapy Sessions, Information and Counselling services and a monthly Family Fun Day offering families the opportunity to do activities such as visit local attractions, the cinema (which is always fun with feed pumps, wheelchairs, walking frames and excited children) Canal Boating, Bowling, Water Sports, Parties, Skiing, Wall Climbing, Photoshoots and even Indoor Skydiving!

We firmly believe that our children, no matter what their diagnosis, have the right to experience as much of life as possible and make oodles of many happy memories with their friends and family. Life is a journey and this path we walk certainly isn’t an easy one, however it is very rewarding and we consider ourselves blessed to be part of these special children’s lives and to help make a difference.
Share
0

You also might be interested in

Showcase Cinema staff serving popcorn

Relaxed cinema viewing: Ron’s Gone Wrong

Nov 15, 2021

We’ve visited The Showcase Cinema every November for a few[...]

Little Hiccups trip to Cannon Hall Farm – Saturday 19th September 2015

Little Hiccups trip to Cannon Hall Farm – Saturday 19th September 2015

Sep 22, 2015

Indoor Play Area Due to popular demand, we re-visited Cannon[...]

Star Wars character group raises incredible sum for Leeds charity during lockdown

Star Wars character group raises incredible sum for Leeds charity during lockdown

Sep 24, 2021

A group of ‘Star Wars’ enthusiasts who dress up as[...]

Login Status

Forgot?  Register

Find us on

Upcoming Events

25 in '25 - Virtual Running Challenge
25 in '25 - Virtual Running Challenge
22 Jan 25
TBC
2025 09-12 Wellbeing for Parents Yoga Sessions
2025 09-12 Wellbeing for Parents Yoga Sessions
10 Sep 25
Leeds
Hydrotherapy Sessions - Sept 2025
Hydrotherapy Sessions - Sept 2025
13 Sep 25
Leeds
Stay n Play - Thursday afternoon session
Stay n Play - Thursday afternoon session
2 Oct 25
Leeds
2025 10 04 Hiccups Parent/Carer Paddleboarding Session!
2025 10 04 Hiccups Parent/Carer Paddleboarding Session!
4 Oct 25
Leeds

Fresh from our Blog

  • Templegate Tinytots Turns 55!
  • Little Hiccups Day Out at Eureka! – What a Blast!
  • Scarecrow Fun at Harewood House!
  • Smashing Barriers on the Slopes – Our Skiing Adventure at The Snow Centre Manchester
  • Celebrating Courage, Community and Change: Our Night at the National Diversity Awards 2025

Get to know us

Little Hiccups is a Leeds based support group that has been set up by parents who have children with additional needs.

Through personal experience they recognise the importance of allowing the parents and families of a child with a disability the opportunity to meet people in similar situations, to make friends and support each other.

Important Links

Terms and Conditions
Privacy Statement
Use of Cookies

Contact Info

  • Little Hiccups
  • c/o The Barrowbys, 170 Barrowby Lane, Garforth, Leeds, LS25 1NG
  • 07831230741
  • info@littlehiccups.co.uk
  • https://www.littlehiccups.co.uk

Charity Details

Little Hiccups is a Company limited by Guarantee - Company number 09692276

Little Hiccups is a Registered Charity
Charity Number 1170147

Blog

  • Templegate Tinytots Turns 55! September 29, 2025
  • Little Hiccups Day Out at Eureka! – What a Blast! September 29, 2025
  • Scarecrow Fun at Harewood House! September 26, 2025
  • Smashing Barriers on the Slopes – Our Skiing Adventure at The Snow Centre Manchester September 23, 2025
  • Celebrating Courage, Community and Change: Our Night at the National Diversity Awards 2025 September 22, 2025

Follow Us

Stay in Touch

Join our mailing list
Prev Next
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT